After watching Bronya and the others from a distance for a while, Theresa left.
The Honkai Creatures in Nagazora City had all rioted earlier, converging towards ME Corp. Theresa was worried that the people of Fire Moth were in danger, so she rushed over immediately. Now that the danger was over, she naturally had to leave.
Daybreak... the cold wind howled...
This silent world, in the dawn's light, once again charged towards the death spots. Sunlight slanted through the gaps in the death spots, shining upon the earth.
Although the light was brief, disappearing after a few minutes, darkness returned the world to chaos.
But it was precisely because this brief light still existed that the survivors would, like moths, chase after the light called hope, even if they would eventually be burned to ashes by its glow...
Ryn sat on the viaduct, looking towards the place where St. Freya High School was in his memory, and his thoughts couldn't help but drift.
There were only three real people in this world. He was one, Ryn was another, and the last one had now awakened...
No, that's not right. Since she still chooses to remain in this dream, how can she be considered awake...
Oh, that's not right either... there aren't just three real beings in this world, there is a fourth...
——————————————
Ryn's consciousness subsided, and she fell into a bizarre and motley dream...
Her vision was pitch black, her body weak and powerless, and her mind was filled with weariness and drowsiness.
"Am I dead... or is this just another boring, empty dream..."
"So tired... I'll just rest for a bit..."
Ryn gave up resisting. Maybe it would be better to just sleep on like this...
But a strange yet familiar voice echoed in her mind.
"Don't sleep. If you fall asleep, you'll be like me and never wake up again..."
Ryn opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the voice.
The girl who had been sleeping in the dream had now opened her eyes.
They were full of pressure, yet empty and without spirit, only endless sorrow...
Ryn showed a faint, sad smile, "It's you... Kiana... Are you finally awake?"
"I'm not awake, you are asleep... but that's not important. What's important is, Ryn, you must stay awake, or you will be trapped here forever."
"Trapped here... does that mean to die?"
"...Not death, but not living either. This is the boundary between life and death, an illusion that exists nowhere in the world.
A dream bubble that I destroyed but was created by you..."
"Created by me...?"
"You can't understand it now, but one day you will understand the meaning of everything... It is the sorrow of an era, and the love between two people..."
"You're right, I don't understand anything yet. I don't even know who I am... or how I got here..." Ryn scratched her head in frustration, then looked at Kiana with hope.
"You've been here for so long, can you tell me the answer?"
"The answer...? I don't know... there is no answer here, nor is there a need for one."
"Then what are you waiting for here?"
"Waiting... Ryn, your and Ryn's arrival was a pleasant surprise and made me happy, but... it's no longer important to me. Atonement, redemption... it's all meaningless now."
Kiana raised her head, looking through the walls, through the coast... and met Ryn's gaze from afar.
"The changes of the era can no longer be reversed... this place is just a symbol left in the past. The only ones who can't let go are those who live in the past.
There is only one thing I can hope for now, to snuggle with her and fall into an eternal sleep... that is all."
"Who is she? Mei?" Ryn asked.
Kiana withdrew her gaze and looked at Ryn, chuckling softly.
"Hehe, you're really greedy... always wanting to figure everything out. But there's no time... she will be back soon. Go back to them, take them and leave..."
"No... I still have many things I want to ask you..."
"Go back, or it will all be over..."
Kiana patted Ryn, expelling her from the dream. Then she looked into the distance again, towards where Ryn was. She knew he could see, and he could hear...
"Those words were for you too... it's enough, this world doesn't need saving... neither do I... Take them and leave."
Ryn looked at Kiana and slowly spoke a few words.
"I refuse!"
——————————————
"Ugh... it hurts..."
When Ryn groaned in pain and opened her eyes, she found herself looking at the familiar ceiling of the train car.
Just like the scene when she first opened her eyes...
But this time, beside her wasn't a Homu robot, but...
Upon waking up, Ryn found Ryn, Seele, and the others gathered around her bed, looking at her nervously.
At this, Ryn couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart and she let out a happy, silly smile.
But Ryn's smile dumbfounded everyone. She was smiling so foolishly, could she have suffered a brain injury?
"You're finally awake. How are you feeling, any discomfort?"
Ryn had seen Ryn's "dream," so he knew she was fine, but Seele and Bronya didn't.
The two of them chattered around Ryn, asking question after question, afraid that she had suffered some unknown injury and become foolish.
"What are you smiling about? Did you hurt your head again?" "Do you remember who you are? Does anywhere on your body hurt?"
"Big Sis, you're asking too quickly!"
"Sorry, I'll slow down and ask again. Do you remember..."
"Uh, uh, uh... no need, no need, I'm fine... I was just too tired and fell asleep..."
Ryn quickly interrupted Bronya's string of questions. She was a bit overwhelmed by Seele and Bronya's enthusiastic questioning at first...
"It's good that you're fine. You've been unconscious for a whole day like this. Do you want something to eat?"
Ryn brought a glass of water and a plate of food and handed them to Ryn. Then he brought another plate of food for Bronya, but Seele took it instead.
Ryn: "Bronya thinks it's because of her that you were injured in the fight with Mei. She's been worried about your injuries for a long time. Ever since returning from ME Corp, she's spent every spare moment standing by your bed and praying for you..."
Seele: "That's right, Big Sis has been so anxious about you during this time that she couldn't even eat."